Sheep Care Guide — FarmPal

Complete care guide for sheep including housing, feeding, health, breeding, and seasonal care.

Housing Requirements

  • •15-25 sq ft per sheep in shelter
  • •Three-sided shelter often sufficient (sheep are hardy)
  • •Good ventilation essential to prevent respiratory issues
  • •Dry bedding critical sheep are prone to foot rot
  • •Handling chute and small pen for health checks
  • •Separate jugs (small pens) for lambing season

Feeding

Daily
2-4% body weight in forage, primarily hay and pasture
Sheep-specific minerals (NO copper toxic to sheep)
Salt block always available
Grain for pregnant/nursing ewes and growing lambs
Fresh clean water sheep drink 1-4 gallons daily

Health

Checkups
FAMACHA scoring every 2-4 weeks, hoof trim every 6-8 weeks
Common Issues:
  • •Internal parasites barber pole worm is major concern
  • •Foot rot/scald trim hooves, keep bedding dry
  • •Flystrike shear and monitor in warm weather
  • •Pregnancy toxemia (ketosis) in late pregnancy
  • •Bloat especially on lush legume pastures
Product
Meat, Wool, Milk
Yield
5-15 lbs wool per year depending on breed

Seasonal Care

🌱 spring
  • • Lambing season prepare jugs, supplies, heat lamps
  • • Shearing most breeds need annual shearing
  • • Begin parasite monitoring with FAMACHA
☀️ summer
  • • Rotate pastures to manage parasites
  • • Provide shade and cool water
  • • Monitor for flystrike (maggots) keep rear clean
🍂 fall
  • • Breeding season (most breeds are seasonal breeders)
  • • Flush ewes 2-3 weeks before breeding (increase nutrition)
  • • Ram care trim hooves, check condition
❄️ winter
  • • Increase hay for pregnant ewes in late pregnancy
  • • Monitor for pregnancy toxemia in final 6 weeks
  • • Prepare lambing supplies

🚨 Emergency Tips

  • •Prolapse (vaginal/uterine): Clean, replace, apply prolapse harness, call vet
  • •Dystocia (lambing trouble): Check position, gentle assistance, call vet after 30 min
  • •Bloat: Walk sheep, drench with vegetable oil, call vet for severe cases
  • •Hypothermic lamb: Warm gradually (hair dryer), tube feed colostrum
  • •Flystrike: Clip wool, remove maggots, treat with appropriate insecticide